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Fab Melo Misses Syracuse Road Trip Due To 'Unresolved Academic Issue'

The 20-0 Syracuse Orange put their undefeated record on the line this weekend as they begin a road swing at Notre Dame and Cincinnati, and they'll be without a key player. Center Fab Melo is staying home due to academic reasons, according to ESPN's Andy Katz.

A source told Katz that Melo is out "due to an unresolved academic issue from the first semester." Citing school policy and federal student privacy laws, the university declined to give any further details.

The Orange open their three-game road trip against the the Fighting Irish at 6 p.m. ET. The university is hoping to clear the issue up by next week, when the team returns home. Syracuse plays host to West Virginia next Saturday, Jan. 28.

"It's obviously a big loss in the middle," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said to Syracuse Sports Network's Matt Park. "We're hoping that Fab can get back. We have to clear some hurdles. We feel very strongly about our team. Everybody's going to have to work a little bit harder on the boards. We'll be ready."